iSamagaliso Wetland Park

On Wednesday, the 9th, Jon picked us up again along with 4 tourists from France to go into iSimangaliso Wetland Park to drive as far as Cape Vidal. At first it was very quiet as it was just after dawn and Jon hoped to see some leopards. Evidently the leopards didn't want to be found,but we had an enjoyable drive to a rest stop where we had hot chocolate and rusks overlooking Lake St Lucia, We saw the most beautiful kudu with long, long horns. They too were healthy looking. We saw other animals during the day. We also stooped twice to over look the Indian Ocean, once at Mission Rocks. We drove to cape Vidal where we spent some time sitting on the beach as it was too cool and windy to be tempted to go in the water although we saw a few people who did. We had a delicious braii of club steak and sausages with potato salad. After lunch we drove back through a swamp forest  and red dunes. We saw hippos and some lovely antelope. As we were heading back to St Lucia we saw a rhino family. It was another good day. We slept so well while in St Lucia that we wish we could return frequently just for the rest.

Woolly necked stork

Cape Vidal Beach

Beach

Red Dunes

Hippos

Cape Buffalo

Beach with no swimming sign

Mission Rocks

Mission Rocks

Kudu

Mountain Reedbuck (first time we've seen this antelope)

Rhino family

Interesting tree 

Blue Wildebeest

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve

On Tuesday, August 8th we were picked up by Jon, a former ranger for H-I Game reserve to drive us about an hour for an all day safari. It was just Dave & I so it was quite a treat. We had hot chocolate and rusks at the entry to the reserve, then went into the Infolozi side first. We saw Cape Buffalo, antelope, and even lions sunning themselves on a river bank (it was far away so the photos didn't turn out very well). Amazingly, we even saw a spotted hyena which Jon said is rare to see. We had breakfast at an overlook which was beautiful.

Later we went into the Hluhluwe (it sounds sort of like shshuway) side of the reserve where we saw elephants, beautiful giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and many birds. The animals were not as close as the ones we have seen in Pilanesberg, but we noticed that Jon gave them plenty of space. He had grown up on the reserve and then became a ranger. Part of the time he worked the rhino protection unit which is dangerous - both from the rhino he was trying to protect and the poachers who will kill the rangers! He fixed us an excellent braii (bbq) lunch of "texas steak" and SA sausage, potato salad and a curry pasta salad. Malva Pudding was dessert!  We may not have seen as many animals as sometimes, but they were the healthiest we've seen and the reserve had excellent roads. they are experiencing a drought so a lot of the waterholes were dry. It was a great day and we were tired by the time we returned to St Lucia passing the villages on the road back.

Babboons

South African hornbeck

Crested Guinea Fowl

African Hoopoe (its call is like its name)

Cape Buffalo

Elephant

Giraffe - note the 2 swinging their necks at each other

Spotted Hyaena

Impala

Jon Burke, our guide

Lioness

Lions in the tree

Nyala - first time we've seen this antelope

Nyala

Rhinoceros - He has a beautiful horn

Country

Waterbuck (the distinctive white marking on the rear)

Zebra

St Lucia

On August 7th we drove about an hour and a half to St Lucia where the first thing we did was take a Hippo Croc Boat Tour of St Lucia Lake. There were a huge number of hippopotamus which is the reason they promise a refund if you don't see a hippo on the cruise! After that we did a little shopping and had lunch before checking in at Avalone B&B. We also drove about 5 minutes to the beach and walked on it a few minutes.

Giant Kingfisher

hippo!!

Hippo family

hippos sunbathing!

Red Duiker behind our B&B

Fern growing on palm in front of B&B

Mongoose across the road from our B&B

Warning sign as the hippos do roam the streets of the town.

Open area behind our B&B with Cherrie in a swing

Beach near St Lucia - Indian Ocean. It was sort of a cool windy day.

Hunters B&B at Mtunzini

After Church Sunday, August 6th, we drove back toward Durban to Mtunzini where we had a great lunch with the Lofstrand's at the Fat Cat. The restaurant didn't look like much but the food was great with the best Chicken Schnitzel I've had. After lunch and saying goodbye to the Lofstrand's we checked into Hunters B&B. It was at the top of a hill and in the distance we could see the Indian Ocean. The accommodations were simple but clean, but breakfast the next morning was delicious with hot croissants and perfect eggs.

Mtunzini has the Umlalazi Nature reserve. We saw a red duiker antelope and many birds there and at the B&B. There is both a mangrove forest and a rare Raphia palm forest in the reserve. It also has access to the beach which is calm and peaceful.

Trumpeter Hornbill at the B&B

Pool and Deck at the B&B

Rooms at the B&B

Orchids growing in the trees

View of the Indian Ocean from in front of B&B

A rare palm forest in Mtunzini

Umlalazi Nature Reserve

Indian Ocean at Mtunzini

Vervet Monkeys in Mtunzini